Hair, skin & nails are often the last part of the body to receive vital nutrients. They are also our physical buffer to the outer world, getting all the wear & tear of everyday life. The result of the body’s neglect to its extremities – plus the external weather bashing – is what contributes to the growth, strength and health of hair… or lack there of. Hair needs to be kept in the right condition to promote healthy growth.

For healthier hair growth,
keep these tips in mind:

1. Mess less with your hair

Yes, it’s important to wash your hair to give it an appealing healthy look and smell. That being said, the obsession with washing it every day will not do your locks any good. Chances are, your hair will become reliant upon the excessive hair washing, resulting in oilier roots and drier ends. Your scalp produces its own natural oils that are essential for healthy hair, but by washing it every day, you strip these oils and irritate the scalp. Believe it or not, over time, you can adapt your scalp to maintain a healthy and clean look by only washing your hair once or twice a week. If you want to take this experiment one step further in order to test how resilient and healthy your hair can be, remove the conditioner step.

2. Massage the scalp

The head and scalp and hair require a lot of blood to function well. Through massage, stimulated blood flow will promote nourishment to make the hair grow longer and faster. The best way to massage the scalp is to face the ground and tilt your head forward so your hair can hang down. Give yourself a three to five minute scalp massage to create real warmth and circulation. This is something I experimented with and saw significant growth.

3. Consider a more balanced diet

Your hair’s well-being is as much as result of your diet as any other aspect of your bodily health. If your body is lacking in those vital nutrients that determine the performance of organs responsible for hair growth, it’s no wonder you might notice a diminished sheen to your locks.
In order to optimize your hair’s health, it will help you immensely to seek out the right nutritional support. The key nutrients involved in shaping a full head of hair are as follows:

• Iron | Like most body parts, the hair also requires a good blood supply to ensure nutrients are delivered. Those with an iron deficiency will tend to have thinner & weaker hair. Iron rich foods include red meat, parsley, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, tahini, and green leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin D | Stimulates the hair follicles and is responsible for the nourishment of cells around the hair shaft. Healthy cells mean healthy hair. In order to get more vitamin D in your life, simply walk out into the sun. This will do wonders for your overall health, not only your hair. Foods high in vitamin D include fatty fish (like salmon, tuna, sardines), liver, yeast, and mushrooms.
• Vitamin E | Improves the health condition of the scalp, thus allowing your hair to grow in a nourished environment. Foods high in Vitamin E include nuts, seeds, chard, spinach, and cold pressed plant oils. Oils can also be applied topically and rubbed into the scalp.
• Biotin | Known to improve the keratin infrastructure, which supports the basic protein used by the body in making hair, nails and skin. Biotin is found in foods like eggs, milk, cheese, cauliflower, black-eyed peas, and avocados.
  

Note: dietary changes can take up to three months to see changes and improvements.

Do you have any tips to share?

Let us know
in the comments below!

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Photo credit: Averie Woodard

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2017 and was updated in May 2019 for accuracy.